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Home » News » Pro-Life This Week – November 14, 2025

Pro-Life This Week – November 14, 2025

Week in Review

American Life League’s Annual Pro-Life Essay Contest Sees Monumental Surge in Participation

American Life League’s annual Pro-Life Essay Contest, hosted by its Culture of Life Studies Program, for 3rd–12th grade students has shattered records with an unprecedented 200% increase in participation, marking a historic milestone for the organization and the pro-life movement. 

This year’s contest, which invites young people to articulate their pro-life convictions and share practical ways they embody these values in their daily lives, saw an extraordinary outpouring of entries from students across the nation. The dramatic rise in participation reflects a growing embrace of pro-life principles among America’s youth, signaling a powerful cultural shift. 

Susan Ciancio, director and executive editor of the Culture of Life Studies Program, expressed her excitement: “We were thrilled to receive over three times as many submissions this year as in past years! This is a true testament to the fact that Catholic leaders are taking their vocation to teach pro-life values seriously.” 

Ciancio highlighted the profound impact of the essays, stating, “In these essays, we have seen a true understanding of the sanctity of life, of a love for the vulnerable, and of a courageous spirit to live their faith.”  

“This incredible turnout has filled us with immense hope,” said Katie Brown Xavios, national director of American Life League. “Each essay is a testament to the passion and influence of these young voices. From 3rd graders to high school seniors, these students are boldly proclaiming their commitment to life and demonstrating how they can become a force for good in their communities.” 

The surge in participation is attributed to a renewed enthusiasm for pro-life values, fueled by young people’s desire to advocate for life on a national stage. American Life League credits this momentum to the increasing visibility of pro-life ideals and the contest’s unique platform, which empowers students to express their beliefs with conviction and creativity. 

“This is a beacon of hope for the future,” Xavios added. “For anyone seeking proof that the culture is shifting toward life, this record-breaking participation is undeniable evidence. Pro-lifers of all ages should be inspired by the courage and clarity of these young advocates.” 

American Life League invites pro-lifers to celebrate this milestone and continue fostering a culture of life. For more information about the contest and its impact, visit ALL.org. Contest winners will be announced in December.

USCCB Elects New President Committed to Protecting the Preborn

This week, members of the USCCB elected Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City to serve as the next president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

According to Catholic News Agency, the archbishop has been a staunch defender of the preborn in his home state of Oklahoma. In 2022, when the Oklahoma governor signed into law a near-total abortion ban, the archbishop said the following: 

Building a culture of life in Oklahoma that recognizes the inherent dignity of every person requires the protections afforded by pro-life legislation and a profound change of heart. . . . 

I encourage Oklahomans to pray for women in crisis pregnancy situations, for their families and loved ones, for families waiting to adopt, for fathers, and for the many pregnancy resource centers serving these brave parents. Thank you to Oklahoma’s legislative leaders and to Gov. Stitt for supporting pro-life measures.

The same Catholic News Agency article states that Coakley has also expressed concern about the rise of gender dysphoria and the promotion of gender ideology in American society. Coakley provided advice to parents and criticized drugs and surgeries used to facilitate a gender transition.

American Life League calls on pro-lifers to pray for the new president of the USCCB, and we applaud his efforts thus far to cultivate a culture of life. May the Holy Spirit guide him and his fellow bishops as we all work to create a world in which abortion is unimaginable. 

ALL in the News

ALL national director Katie Brown Xavios recently provided comments about a college professor who claimed that banning abortion is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes. Xavios’ comments were published by College Fix and LifeNews. 

American Life League’s most recent press release on the massive turnout for this year’s Pro-Life Essay Contest was published by LifeSiteNews. The contest participation increase was also featured in an article on CatholicVote.

Susan Ciancio, editor of Celebrate Life Magazine and director of the Culture of Life Studies Program, penned an op-ed published by LifeSiteNews. The article explains that, if we want to create a pro-life culture, we must teach pro-life values at home.

ALL’s national director Katie Brown Xavios regularly posts updates about American Life League and its important work on social media channels X and LinkedIn. Follow her accounts to stay up to date.

Twice a week, Judie’s commentaries are distributed to an expansive media list. The list contains over 100 media outlets such as Fox News, The Federalist, Breitbart, and The Daily Caller, among others. Judie’s commentaries are each featured on the front page of ALL.org. 

Pro-Life Education

Culture of Life Studies Program

Advent begins November 30, and we now offer three booklets for your entire family! Whether you want to journey through Advent with the mysteries of the rosary, with the saints, or with Bible verses and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we have a book to suit your desires! Download each (or all three!) and prepare your hearts and minds for the Christ Child. From now through the end of the month, each booklet is just $1! ORDER HERE

ALL’s Education Materials

Does IVF Violate Human Dignity? is a shareable brochure about in vitro fertilization. IVF helps infertile couples have biological children, so it is often praised as a pro-life and pro-family form of procreative technology. But IVF success stories hide a devastating reality. This technology murders millions of preborn babies, fractures marital unity, and turns children into objects that can be bought and created on demand. This brochure shares what happens to all the children procreated through IVF and the false hope it offers to suffering couples. Learn what the Church teaches about procreative technologies, as well as the licit fertility treatments Catholics can use instead. SHOP NOW

Pro-Life Social Media

Not New News: IVF Kills More Human Beings Than Abortion

A strange headline came across our feed that required us to look deeper into the claim:

“Now”?

The headline repeats a Live Action report of a similar title.

The use of the descriptive “now” suggests a new benchmark has been reached. Specifically, more human beings die via IVF than through abortion on an annual basis. However, this has been the case for nearly a decade. Based on IVF facility data, we estimate that on average 12 human embryos are manipulated into existence for every IVF cycle. 

In 2005, the CDC reported 134,260 IVF cycles but only 52,000 live births of IVF children. Multiply the number of cycles by 12, and that’s 1.6 million human embryos. The Guttmacher Institute reports 1.2 million abortions the same year. That’s more dead IVF babies than babies murdered by abortion—20 years ago.

The death rates of IVF-created children is shocking, but isn’t new. Remember our video report from last year? 

Please share the video, as the information presented needs to be seen by more pro-life advocates.